Big Price about Barney Beating Chizzy in Exeter

The Betway Premier League of Darts visits Exeter on Thursday evening for night five of the competition, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting Premier League tournaments in years. Last week’s action in Brighton saw four of the five matches finish all square, on an incredible night of draws. Three players remain unbeaten – Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and James Wade – but just four points separate first from last in the table.

Fans at The Brighton Centre were treated to a special night as each of the last four games finished in a 6-6 draw. Jelle Klaasen was the only winner of the night when he beat Dave Chisnall in the opener, helping him swap places with his rival at the foot of the table. Michael van Gerwen was held to a draw by Adrian Lewis, who took out a brilliant 170 during the match and snatched a draw by winning the deciding leg. It was Mighty Mike’s second stalemate in four matches after drawing with Gary Anderson on the first night, but he still leads the table from Phil Taylor.

The Power only just held on to his own unbeaten record, after Kim Huybrechts missed three match darts in the game’s final two legs. Taylor described it as a ‘point gained’ and admitted he wasn’t ‘on song’, but in his last ever Premier League tournament he is level on points with van Gerwen at the top of the table after two wins and two draw. James Wade also maintained his unbeaten start with a point against Gary Anderson, but the left-hander said it ‘felt like a loss’ after he threw away a 5-1 lead against the Flying Scotsman. Raymond van Barneveld and Peter Wright also played out a draw which keeps both in contention, and the former headlines our tips for Night Five in Exeter.

Dave Chisnall v Raymond van Barneveld

Barney is a tempting price at 2.00Bet €100 to win €2001/1Bet £100 to win £200+100Bet $100 to win $2001.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$2001.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp2001.0000Bet RM100 to win RM200  with Bet365 and William Hill to get the better of an out-of-form Dave Chisnall.

Chizzy reached the play offs two seasons ago, but finished 9th last season and was eliminated at the first stage. A successful Premier League campaign doesn’t look like it’s on the cards this time around, and he’s bottom of the table after one win (Huybrechts) and three defeats (Lewis, Taylor, Klaasen). There’s a huge difference in performance levels judged on last week’s play. Chisnall didn’t manage to hit a 180 in his match with Klaasen, landing just 27% of doubles and averaging 93.28.

By contrast, van Barneveld hit four 180’s in the draw with Peter Wright, posting a very respectable 103.4 average. Barney also has an excellent record against Chizzy, winning five of the last six matches and leading the head-to-head 11-5 (one draw). Odds of evens about a van Barneveld win are too good to pass up.

Gary Anderson v Phil Taylor

A keenly awaited match is that between Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor, and odds of 1.75Bet €100 to win €1753/4Bet £100 to win £175-133Bet $100 to win $1750.75Bet HK$100 to win HK$175-1.33Bet Rp100 to win Rp1750.7500Bet RM100 to win RM175  with BoyleSports about the Power with a +2.5 leg head start are worth considering.

Both players fought back from losing positions last week to grab a point, and although Anderson is in slightly the better form, this game is expected to be close. The Scottish star is in the top three of this year’s Premier League for averages, 180’s and checkout percentages, even though he’s fifth in the table with 1 win, two draws, and one defeat.

Incredibly, Taylor has the lowest average in the competition and has thrown the least 180’s, but he is yet to taste defeat and sits 2nd in the table. The raw statistics might point to an Anderson win, but games between the pair are often tight – as the 11-9 Anderson win in the semi final of the Masters proved. Taylor leads the head-to-head 38-15 (two draws), and has won six of the last eight meetings between the two. A +2.5 handicap gives the bet every chance of landing, even if the Power goes down to another narrow defeat.

Adrian Lewis v Peter Wright

Finally, the game between Lewis and Wright looks very tough to call, and it may be worth a small investment in a draw at 4.50Bet €100 to win €4507/2Bet £100 to win £450+350Bet $100 to win $4503.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$4503.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp450-0.2857Bet RM100 to win RM450  with SkyBet and BetVictor.

Both players have shown good recent form – Lewis earned a point from a draw with van Gerwen just last week, and Wright is 4th in the table after two wins, one draw and just the one defeat – but Wright is arguably the more consistent. Lewis averaged 101.2 well above his long term average of 95.27 since the start of 2016. Wright has averaged 98.49 over the same period, and has won four of the last six meetings – even though Lewis leads the overall head-to-head 17-11 (two draws).

Lewis and Wright drew 6-6 in their second encounter in last season’s Premier League, and this promises to be another very tight game.

Tips Summary

Van Barneveld to beat Chisnall
Thursday 2nd March, from 19:00 GMT
Odds: 2.00Bet €100 to win €2001/1Bet £100 to win £200+100Bet $100 to win $2001.00Bet HK$100 to win HK$2001.00Bet Rp100 to win Rp2001.0000Bet RM100 to win RM200

Phil Taylor +2.5 to beat Gary Anderson
Thursday 2nd March, from 19:00 GMT
Odds: 1.75Bet €100 to win €1753/4Bet £100 to win £175-133Bet $100 to win $1750.75Bet HK$100 to win HK$175-1.33Bet Rp100 to win Rp1750.7500Bet RM100 to win RM175

Adrian Lewis & Peter Wright to Draw
Thursday 2nd March, from 19:00 GMT
Odds: 4.50Bet €100 to win €4507/2Bet £100 to win £450+350Bet $100 to win $4503.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$4503.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp450-0.2857Bet RM100 to win RM450